U.S. #5 Brookline (MA) runs NTN this weekend off a big NTN NE Regional win
With all the final teams selected for this Saturday's Nike Team Nationals, the final installment of the MileSplit National Team Power Rankings are here. See who the top ten teams are heading into the meet at Portland Meadows.
MileSplit National Team Power Rankings (Nov. 27)
Boys
1. Neuqua Valley (IL) - Idle. Part of the squad ran Foot Locker Regionals. Leader Chris Derrick finished second overall, while second and third runners Jim Riddle and Danny Pawola finished in the top forty. Fourth man Aaron Beattie finished fourth in the fr./so. race.
2. North Central (WA) - Idle. Next up Nike Team Nationals.
3. Albuquerque Academy (NM) - Idle. Next up Nike Team Nationals.
4. Los Alamos (NM) - Idle. Next up Nike Team Nationals.
5. Brookline (MA) - Brookline pulled a stunning 86-87 win over pre-race favorite Danbury. The team used a very strong top four to secure their win, led by race winner Robert Gibson.
6. Danbury (CT) - While Danbury may have lost the NTN Northeast Regional, the teams' confidence should not falter. Their interchangable parts help them in meet situations, and the strong leadership from senior frontrunners Matt Terry and Willie Ahearn should keep the squad grounded at nationals.
7. The Woodlands (TX) - Idle. Next up Nike Team Nationals.
8. Central Catholic (OR) - Idle. Next up Nike Team Nationals.
9. Dana Hills (CA) - The squad easily won their race at the California State Meet this past weekend. Their 70 point win beat strong competition and helped earn them a spot at NTN this coming weekend. The deep squad used a 32 second spread at state, which could push them much higher than this ranking in Portland.
10. York (IL) - Idle. Despite their front man Tom Achtein being hurt (but still running), York enters Saturday's action with a lot of momentum on it's side.
Girls
1. Fayetteville-Manlius (NY) - The team to beat continued their domination of the Northeast as they captured the NTN NE Regional by 32 points over runner-up Burnt-Hills. What made the feat even more impressive was their putting three runners in the top six. They enter this weekend's national meet as heavy favorites.
2. Saugus (CA) - If anyone can challenge U.S. #1 Fayetteville-Manlius next weekend Saugus is the team to try. The California team won their state meet in grand fashion, securing the win with a 56-128 margin. The team ran a 41 second split off of senior leader Katie Dunn.
3. Burnt-Hills (NY) - A decisive 72-83 win over rival Saratoga Springs pushed Burnt-Hills into an automatic berth for Nike Team Nationals. With one of their key athletes added to the line-up, Burnt-Hills ran a strong race at the NTN NE Regional behind race winner Sam Roecker.
4. Saratoga Springs (NY) - Despite placing third at the NTN New York Regional, Saratoga enters the top four based off of their strong performances all season. At the regional competition the squad lost a close battle to second place U.S. #3 Burnt-Hills 72-83.
5. Dowling Catholic (IA) - Idle. Next up Nike Team Nationals. Their top two runners, sophomores Katie Flood and Ashlie Decker, ran extremely well at the Foot Locker Midwest Regional. Flood finished second and Decker finished in the top twenty.
6. Jesuit (OR) - Idle. Next up Nike Team Nationals.
7. Westfield (IN) - Idle. Next up Nike Team Nationals.
8. St. Mary's (OR) - Idle. Next up Nike Team Nationals.
9. Lake Central (IN) - Idle. Next up Nike Team Nationals.
10. Fort Collins (CO) - Idle. Next up Nike Team Nationals.